Chairs - To Paint or Not to Paint?

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I had my first Thirty-One party on Friday nigh,t and then had a lazy day on Saturday. I had plans to do a few projects around the house, but I did nothing!

Before we get to the "To Paint or Not To Paint" part of this post, I need to show you what I have done so far.

This is the little sitting nook in our living room. The side of the living room that I did not show you last week when I gave you the living room update.

Current Setup

These chairs were a Craigslist find that I reupholstered, and the table was found by the curb at my neighbor's house. It just needed a little bit of sanding to remove the crackle finish and a can of Heirloom White spray paint.

Table Before

Chairs Before

Both were nice upgrades, but I'm still not sure that it is just right. 

Here is another look at the other side of the room.

There is very large black antique piano that sits next to the chairs. Part of me likes that the rattan is a different tone from everything else in the room, but part of me feels like it is throwing everything WAY off. I really like the chairs. I like the scale. They are comfortable. The price was just right at $40 for the PAIR, plus $20 for the shower curtain from Target that I used to reupholster the seats. My dilemma, To Paint or Not to Paint?

If I paint, they can never be natural rattan again. If I paint, what color do I paint them? My first thought is white, but I like a nice glossy pure white. If I paint the chairs white, what do I do about the heirloom white (more of an off white) table? I already plan to paint the media cabinet white at some point. HELP ME PLEASE! I am certain that if this was someone else's home I would be able to look at it and say,"you need do blah, blah, blah", but I am stuck. Is it the fabric?

Please keep in mind that I prefer a more modern look, and am trying to work with the pieces that I have. 

Here are a few painted chairs that have the nice modern look I would like to achieve. 

Via Young House Love

I REALLY like this green, but I'm not sure it if would be too much.

Via Bower Power

This one is not a chair, but the finish of the plant stand was the same in the before as my chairs.

Via Ana Antunes Home-Styling

Via Ten June

If you pin the photos that are not mine, please go to original website and pin from their site. Thank you!

Linking up to these Blog Parties

A Bowl Full of Lemons - The Bliss Diaries - Positely Splendid - Delightful Order - It's Overflowing - The Shabby Nest

Thrifted Lamps - Before and After

I have had these lamps for a few years, but when taking pics of my living room for some upcoming posts, I realized that I have never shown a true before and after of these.

These are still one of my all time fav thrift store finds. You can read the story of the lady that followed me around the rescue mission the I found these here if you would like.

These lamps started out like this. Yellow with hand painted flowers. I really liked the shape and the $1 each price tag. I brought them home, cleaned them up, taped up the brass, added a few coats of primer and then a few coats of white glossy spray paint. They sat with ugly shades for several months, and then I finally got these linen ish shades from Wal-Mart for around $15 each.

You seriously can not beat  a set of two lamps for under $40.

What is your fav thrift store find?

Linking up to these Blog Parties

A Bowl Full of Lemons - Tatertots and Jello - Positely Splendid - Delightful Order - It's Overflowing - The Shabby Nest

TV Wall Update

I have fiddled and fiddled with this TV wall. The long term plan is to eventually build custom built-ins for this wall. That will have to wait until we decide for sure and then actually purchase this home that we are currently renting. In the mean time I am trying to work with what I have or come across without spending a whole lot. We are currently using my buffet to hold the TV and all of it's gear. It's not my fav, but it also doesn't bother me. I think I might like it better if I found a dresser that I could convert to hold all of the boxes, but I haven't come across anything so far that is just right.

So for now, I just fiddle with what is on the wall above the TV. Take 1, was not so hot. Take 2, wasn't even blog worthy. This would be Take 3. It has been in place for several months and I am quite happy with it. At least for now, anyway. :)

Ok, now I want to change out he knobs, but that's for another time. Let me tell you about the artwork. The rose painting was something I came across at the thrift store for $1. I really liked the colors, nice and bright. It reminded me of something I had seen in an antique store that was much pricier . The other 3 pieces of art were found all together at the same thrift store, just on a different day. I initially bought them for the frames, but the more I looked at them, the more I started to like them. I don't remember exactly what I paid for the 3, but I'm pretty sure it was around $6.

I may eventually move these all to the dining room and replace them with a large canvas that has been painted with a colorful graphic print like I mentioned in my first 2 Bills 2 Blow post, but for now, they make the TV wall much nicer to look at.

Linking up to:
A Bowl Full of Lemons
It's Overflowing

project chalkboard

image via Krylon

This is my chalkboard paint of choice. (It's the only one I have tried)

I can't find a pic of the wall in my kitchen that is next to the fridge, but just picture a wall that had random large screws and wires hanging out of it. My solution, cover the mess with a chalkboard. Two days after we moved in I placed a smaller chalkboard on this wall, but had been on the look out for one that was longer/larger to fill out the space better.

before

This piece of art was leftover from a friend's garage sale, so I asked if I could have it. I was pretty sure that the size would be just right.

I took off the backing and removed the artwork and glass so that I could paint directly onto the front of the glass following the directions on the can of paint. I went back and forth trying to decide if I should paint the frame, but couldn't decide. I kind of like the gold, so for now it stays gold. I can always go back and paint it later if I choose to.

after

And now we have a chalkboard that fits the space.  Cade  memorizes a new Bible verse every week, so this has been a great place to right it out so that we can all see it.

Have you painted any chalkboards lately? Do you like the gold frame or would you have painted it a different color?

*I haven not been compensated in anyway from Krylon for this post. All opinions are my own.

the new living room corner

This corner has been my project the last few months. I've been slowly working on it as I have had time.

dresser before

The dresser used to be in the nursery. I REALLY liked it in the nursery, but it had an old smell, so it ended up not being functional in the nursery. Our house is small, so I need everything to function well.

corner before dresser

I decided that it would work in this little corner. I was getting bored with the small bookcase and wanted something  little more substantial and practical. With a baby that will be crawling soon, an open bookcase isn't really going to work.

Enter the dresser. I mixed my own paint and got busy. The lamp is another thrifty revamped lamp with a new linen shade.

This corner is now one of my favorite little spots in my house.

don't forget to enter the giveaway for a $45 CSN GIFT CODE

linked to:
tatertots and jello
funky junk interiors

thrifty lamps {the after)

Do you remember this set of lamps that I picked up for $1 each? (the yellow ones on the right)

They have finally been painted.

A little primer, a few coats of glossy white spray paint, and a spray clear coat - just what I wanted.

I am STILL trying to find the perfect drum shades. So far the ones I have purchased and tried are not big enough. I'm still looking though. I can't get the harps off, so that has been the biggest problem. I think I may enlist the help of the Mr. on the harps. I'll let you know when I find the right shades.


linked to:
creations by Kara

thrifty frame before/after

I like a good thrift store before and after. This one was simple and still pretty dramatic for very little money and time.

1 bamboo frame with ugly water color from the thrift store $4.50
1 can glossy spray paint $3.00 to paint frame
1 paint brush and leftover paint to paint mat
1 short phrase created in word and printed out (i didn't even use card stock)

A new piece of art for a small wall in my dining room.

linked to:
nifty thrifty tuesday
creations by Kara

The Painted Tray

I've been on the lookout for a tray to put on my ottomans. 

You know, to hold a drink, or the remote, or plastic dinosaurs.

I went into my favorite thrift store last week, 

and found this beauty for 75 cents! 

What, you don't like the "welcome friends" stenciled on it? 

Well, I didn't either, but I knew that all it needed was a quick sand, 

a coat of primer, and then a coat (or 3) of glossy white spray paint.

I could have stopped there, but I decided to add some stripes. 

 I though about a chevron  pattern, or this quatrefoil, 

but in the end my laziness won. 

I went with the stripes simply because it was going to take the least amount of effort.

A little painter's tape, a little acrylic paint brushed on, and I was done.

What thrift store find have you made over lately?

 

This post is linked to:

Tatertots and Jello
Finding Fabulous
Just a Girl - Show and Share Day

Blue Cricket Design - Show and Tell
Me and My Bucket - Show Us What You're Workin' With 
Someday Crafts
Domestically Speaking - The Power of Paint Party